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CARSON, Calif. – Carlo Cudicini may get the opportunity to face off against one of the giants of Italian soccer on Saturday at Dodger Stadium—but only if he can complete a fitness test.

Cudicini had been scheduled to play a half against Real Madrid on Thursday, but a back issue suffered in training on Wednesday caused the goalkeeper to miss out on the match against the Spaniards. If he does return to action on Saturday, he’ll face a side loaded with his countrymen.

“It's always nice to play against your own — some of them — old mates, and it's always good to speak a little bit of Italian,” said Cudicini, who started his career with AC Milan, the same club that his father played for. “I'm an AC Milan supporter, so, of course, Juventus and Inter Milan are the two big rivals. And Juventus is a great club, especially in Italy. They've won so many titles, have got such a great history. It's a game that's always nice to play.”

As for his fitness, however, that remains in flux—meaning that backup 'keeper Brian Rowe may be given his second start in three days if Cudicini is unable to go.

“I feel it's better. I don't know, we'll see tomorrow, if it improves a little bit more, then it will maybe again be the 45 [minutes] each,” Cudicini said. “Of course, you hope to, but you want to be sure you're 100 percent OK.

"You don't want to risk, first of all because at the end of the day, these are important games for us, but what you're looking for is the [next MLS] game against Dallas [on Aug. 11],” Cudicini added. “You want to be sure you're ready for that game.”

GLENDALE, Ariz. — The Pablo Mastroeni reunion tour made its latest stop on Thursday when the 36-year-old midfielder returned to his childhood home of Arizona.

In front of more than 50 friends and family, Mastroeni went 45 minutes in the Galaxy’s 3-1 defeat to Real Madrid in Guinness International Championship Cup play. For Mastroeni, who left Arizona as a teenager of 17 to pursue his soccer career, the chance to play in his home state was an emotional experience.

“Playing in front of friends and family is always awesome,” said Mastroeni. “I had high school buddies; I had elementary school buddies, the extended family, and in-laws. The list goes on and on, but it was awesome…It was good to be out there and play probably my last game in front of the Phoenix crowd.”

However, playing in front of family and friends wasn’t the only exciting part as the midfielder enjoyed the chance to test himself against the Spanish giants.

“I don’t know what their payroll looks like, but I’m sure it’s a little bit more expensive than ours. Just world class players that you watch day in and day out, so to play against these guys doesn’t get old,” said Mastroeni. “Each and every opportunity that you get is an opportunity to measure yourself and [ask yourself] if I would have done alright overseas if I had gone over at a younger age.

“I think that we did a really good job of competing and making these guys play outside their comfort zone,” Mastroeni added. “I think their class showed when they were able to break and score goals, but it was a great game to be a part of, and hopefully, something that we can build on.”

Although Mastroeni has enjoyed getting a chance to spend time with scores of family and friends over the past two weeks, he’s ready for his life to return to normal.

“It’s been an emotional rollercoaster, I’m ready to get off this thing and get some type of normalcy in my life, but that comes with the territory because professional sports are crazy,” said Mastroeni. “It always finds a way to make stories out of this, for me, I’m glad that in a week or two, we’ll get back to a somewhat normal schedule and get back into league.”

However, before that happens, the Mastroeni reunion tour will make one final stop next week in Miami, the place where Mastroeni began his MLS career 16-years-ago with the now defunct Miami Fusion.

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The LA Galaxy gave a fair account of themselves as Real Madrid defeated the two-time defending MLS Cup champions 3-1 in front of 38,922 at University of Phoenix Stadium.

Madrid opened the scoring just 15 minutes in when Angel Di Maria found the back of the net of a pass from Cristiano Ronaldo. After the goal, the Galaxy held the Spanish giants going into the half down just one, but Madrid doubled their lead in the 52nd when Karim Benzema found the back of the net. However, the Galaxy pulled one back in 63rd minute from a wonder strike by Jose Villarreal.

Madrid pulled it to three in the 74th minute when Benzema completed his brace.

The Galaxy will now face Juventus at Dodger Stadium on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Madrid will take on Everton in the early match of the doubleheader at Dodger Stadium.

The LA Galaxy will take on Real Madrid for the fourth straight season on Thursday evening at University of Phoenix Stadium.

Even though the Galaxy have made a match against Los Merengues an annual event, they admit that the match is just as special as it was the first time.

“It doesn’t get old. They’re one of the best teams in the world. You never miss a chance to play in these games and this will be a fun ne,” said defender Todd Dunivant, who scored against Madrid in 2010. “I think that you have nothing to lose so you get to compete and test yourself against the highest level, and Real Madrid certainly qualifies as that. I remember being back in college when you got to play against MLS teams, that was your chance to raise your level and try to raise your game, and the same is kind of true playing Madrid. It’s fun, it’s good experience for guys, and we’re making sure that they know that you have to have a good competitive attitude.”

As for LA’s history against Real? Thursday’s match will be the fifth time that the Galaxy have played against them and the first outside of Southern California.

LA Galaxy defender Omar Gonzalez scored stoppage time of the MLS All-Stars' 3-1 defeat to Italian giants AS Roma, but it was expansion news that stole the show in Kansas City.

At halftime of the match, MLS Commissioner Don Garber revealed that the league will be looking to expand to 24 teams by 2020. In the interview, he also revealed that the league won't be looking to move any teams either.

PHOENIX, Ariz. — Real Madrid has released their travel roster for the team that will face the LA Galaxy on Thursday.

There are a few notable players missing on the squad as Madrid will be without Spanish internationals Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Alvaro Arbeloa as well as Brazilian international Marcelo and French defender Raphaël Varane.

In the lead up to Saturday's Guinness International Championship Cup match at Dodger Stadium, Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo threw out the first pitch -- and well, the second one -- at Wednesday's game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees.

During his time at Chavez Ravine, Ronaldo bonded with Dodgers star Yasiel Puig, which was profiled all over social media. Whereas people who typically throw out the first pitch don a Dodgers uniform and a cap, Ronaldo was clad in his Madrid best with his iconic finely trimmed hair totally immaculate.

Check out Ronaldo's first and second attempts below. Did he get a strike?

The LA Galaxy have landed in Phoenix ahead of Thursday's match against Real Madrid at University of Phoenix Stadium.

As expected, the temperatures in Phoenix are well...hot. It's a toasty 108 degrees at the moment and the temperatures are expected to be the same at game time. Luckily, the stadium is an air-conditioned venue. Whew.

LA Galaxy midfielder Juninho was named to the MLS All-Star inactive roster on Wednesday afternoon.

Per the league’s Collective Bargaining Agreement, the complete MLS All-Star roster includes 32 players, with the inactive roster being determined by player vote.

The nod is Juninho’s second time on the inactive roster as the Galaxy midfielder was selected in 2011. This season, Juninho has made 22 appearances—all 22 being starts—while tallying two assists and forming a successful tandem with fellow Brazilian midfielder Marcelo Sarvas.

Now anyone knows me that I love rap,, I was born in the late-80's, and I love soccer -- well obviously -- but how do I feel about this new fusion of all those things for the website Funny Or Die and the MLS All-Star Game? Well, I love it.